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Spending time with Him

Sometimes I wonder just who is my audience for these. I do not write these just for anybody. I think I write these mainly for the Church and those who feel the tug of God talking to their hearts. Not everyone will “get” or understand these. Not everyone recognizes the God of the Bible, nor do they make time for Him. And, that is the ‘rub’ of it: making time for Him.

God so loved this world – this system and all that is in it – that He gave His son to redeem it. Once paid, there was only one price yet to be paid: time.

The world is so busy chasing after things. The gods or powers of this world are really good at filling up our lives with stuff, with things that distract. Living large or living full, meaningful lives becomes the goal. The end product is emptiness, because if you are not living large you are left with just yourself.

The great fear of so many is facing the reality of the person inside. The person who does not mirror the life and persona created or hoped to have. Once left to the self the nagging question remains: is this all there is?

I understand there are as many beliefs about life on Earth as there are people populating it, and not all agree with me. I understand that. I also understand that there is more to life than just living it.

The God of the Bible did not call us to just live life. He called us to be like Him. We cannot be like someone we do not know. How do we get to know anybody? By spending time with them, and if they have written us letters, may be reading those a few times would help in our understanding of who they are.

The only way to get to know someone is by spending time with them. You really know your family because you spent significant time with them. You shared life experiences with them: birthdays, holidays, tragedies, celebrations, and big life moments. You know how they are likely to act because you have known them over time. In like manner, you spent time with your spouse, dating, socializing, talking, sharing life events, and observing them in all these events then deciding you wanted to share the rest of your life events with them, too. You got to know them.

Knowing the God of the Bible is done the same way. Spend time with Him. Get to know Him through His letters, the Judeo-Christian Bible. Spend time in conversation with Him. Speak and listen. Dialogue. Have two way communication. And, sometimes, just spend time with Him.

Isaiah observed (40.31) that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. Waiting here is not staring at a watch or clock idly passing time. Waiting here is waiting while having an expectant hope. You will be strengthened while you wait with expectant hope that the God of the Bible will do something or will have dialogue with you.

You see, the God of the Bible longs to do just that. Spend time with you. In Luke, chapter 22, Jesus tells his disciples just that. (V.15) He longed, desired, to spend time with them. This was to be his last meal with them before suffering his passion and the cross. The important moment was to spend time with those he loved.

God wants to spend time with you. He set up this whole thing to do just that. Not to be a “bless me” genie. Not to be lord over dependent vassals or serfs or slaves. But to share as equals. To share in life as family.

When I first started walking with God on purpose, I had a conversation with Him and asked: what do these other men (ministers in pulpits and on television) have differently that I do not have? God said, “Nothing.” So I asked: what do they have that I do not have? He said: “Time. Time with Me.” So I said: I need to get me some of that.

From that moment to now, I have purposefully included the God of the Bible in my walk of life, in all that I do. We have had many conversations. Some of them one-sided by me. Some of them one-sided by Him. All of them on purpose.

God showed me His great kindness in coming to me, letting me know I am His, and showing me Jesus – the price paid so I can live one with God. Even today was one such moment.

This morning, God woke me from a deep sleep to wide awake and said, “I want to spend time with you.”

This morning I spent time with Him and this came from it.

I challenge you: find any excuse to spend time with Him. Get to know Him. He loves you and wants time with you. Make time for Him today. Make a habit, a culture, of spending time with Him. You will be very glad you did.

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Now, the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face and favor shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. May He put His name upon you and bless you.

Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you could ask or think according to the power that is in Him, at work in us, supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by and through Christ Jesus. Amen.